Welcome to Gabby's Pharmacy

I finally went to see my doctor today. My first visit with him, and so far I like him. Whew! I was worried about that.Anyway, in December I was on Zero meds, now I feel like a pharmacy!It seems every time I go they add something. Most of them are preventative meds…Like my Lisinopril and Pravastatin and low dose asprin. I got the "every diabetic needs to be on this" speech again, and that makes me uneasy.What do you guys feel about the preventative meds?

45 replies

I take so many medicines that my poor mother sets clocks off so I know when to take them. We laugh, when my niece comes over and a clock goes off, the run in my room and say, Aunt Debe time for your pill.(Bless their souls) LOL……Debe

I AM 27YRS OLD AND I TAKE ALOT OF PILLS EVERY DAY! I'M ON 2 DIFFERENT INSULINS ONE IS LEVEMIR THE OTHER IS NOVOLOG. CELEXA, TRICOR, NEURONTIN, RISPERDAL, SEROQUEL, AMBIEN, REQUIP, VICODIN, METOPROLO, LORTADINE, KLONIPIN,AN INHAILER FOR MY CHRONIC BRONCHITIS,TRAZODONE AND AN ANTIBIOTIC FOR MY CELLULITIS. AND SOME ITAKE 4XDAY, 3XDAY, 2XDAY AND NOW MY DR WANTS TO TRY CYMBALTA FOR MY DEPRESSION AND NEUROPATHY PAIN

Hi! I wish they would have had a prevenative pill for polio. Now because of the late effects of polio I'm on 14 different pills a day. Plus 2 fentanyl pain patches. There are days when i'm sick and the pain in my stomach doesn't go away, that I want to toss them all. These meds do not prevent but keep every thing on a somewhat of a even line.

Depends on the rational for prescribing them. Many are useful and necessary as the side effects of diabetes can be insidious and devastating. There are Dr's. who prescribe so the patient will feel as if they are being treated. However, more often than not, there is a particular reason behind the medication. It is important for you to know and understand what you are taking and why and if you have concerns or questions, ask your Dr.

I understand your concern and I see this way too often. Don't be afraid to speak up and demand his time and explanation.

Yep. When he told me that I was going to start a statin, I sighed...loud. He asked me why. I told him the horrible side effects my mom suffered on a statin where the doctor wanted to lower her cholesterol to under 150. I was cautious. So far, I have not suffered the side effects she did, but it was not on my "to do" list.

If medicines that keep already existing conditions from getting worse are considered preventative then I take 6 pills per day that are preventative. As long as I have no bad side effects from these meds I do not hesitate taking them. I am pleased to have them!!

Gabby, What is your HDL and LDL? If both are in a normal range DO NOT take Statin drugs. I have heard they can cause heart attack and or stroke. From some one who was taking them and had a stroke. There are good vitamin supplements for prevention. I take CoQ10 and a baby asprin daily. Much easier on the liver, etc.BEM

My triglicerides are messing up my LDL, and it is not attainable. My HDL is 38, just at the low end of normal. My over all cholesterol is 222. That is high, and it really freaked me out to see that. I have never had anything over 180 before. I do take the CoQ10 100mg daily and he started me on low dose asprin. Once my numbers are down, I hope to drop the statin. I am not thrilled with it, but I will try it for a while. If nothing improves, I will see what else I can do. I just don't want another pill. I want some direction on my diet or my exercise before he shoves another pill on me.

At this point in my life I wouldn't want to take any medicine at all. But due to my kidney transplant I must abide by my Transplant MD rules and go through him about everything I take, even if its over the counter. Anything natural or good for you I can't take. I guess its in their hands now. So I guess I can't play MD anymore.(LOL)…Debe

OMG! Debe You had a kidney transplant and your insurance would not approve your pump? I want to come up there and shake somebody. I cannot beleive this. I seems they would want to take good care of the kidney they paid for. Are they nuts? I sure hope you get your pump.

Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to! I've been on hormones since age 30 (now on the patch) due to a complete hysterectomy for endometriosis. The RX was minor compare to finding out at age 19 I could not have children. I had headaches on the pills, but not the patch. Then I had a series of sinus infections and was not able to work for 2 years. After that I developed sleep apnea, high blood pressure, acid reflux and diabetes a year later. I o believe in preventative medicine, but each person's body responds differently.I am so blessed my husbands RX copays are only $5-20. I pay 0 for lancets and $10 for strips. I'm 58 and still able to dance!

Hey whatever it takes. I hope I inherited the good genes like my mom. I have been using Olay since 15. Wonder if I got a head start?LOL Yeah I love going to my hairdresser's it makes you feel so good doesn't it?

And as we age, we are the perfect example of "seniors" {who, me?} being overmedicated. However,1. synthroid (Hashimotos goiter) at 402. HBP at I foget when3. followed closely by Atenolol4. followed really closely by water pill We are finally happy with my BP!! yea!5. Statin a couple of years later (I've always had slightly bad #s that got worse)6. BINGO! the big D at 57 = insulin & the low dose aspirin (which is researched to be better if taken at night. I think I read that here somewhere.) Actually, low dose is usually for anyone at risk for heart disease. I know people taking it that don't have diabetes, it's just that diabetics are at higher risk, especially if you already have high BP. I probably should have been ordered to take it when I went on the BP meds.7. RA AND gout at 58 - 3 more prescriptions.8. One more prescription beacuse they don't want to me take ibuprofin or anything for any pain (kidneys)- whooppe, I get Vicodin!After entering MEN-O-PAUSE, the migraines that I suffered with since age 12 went away!!!! the old man says I still have the PMS blues, though.Konck on wood, I feel better (without side effects) with the addition of each med! go figure. I consider myself very fortunate. BTW, if you or your spousal person are employed, find out from your HR person if you can participate in Section 125, otherwise known as Flexible Spending Account. A set amount of $ is deducted, before taxes, from your paycheck & deposited into an account that you draw from to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses (like any co-pays). Take care! Gay

Wow, I guess because I got all of mine in 2 months, it just seems overwhelming. LOL.
My hubby is on disability and I am not insured, but so far, we are good. All of my scripts are generic and if I buy them 3 months at a time, I save even more. At one pharmacy, I paid $31 for my meds for a month, Then I jumped to Kmart (they are good for something) and got 3 months of the same meds for $30. So I'm sold on that one for now. Of course, now I am adding 2 more scripts, but still it will be only $15 more. I know I am supposed to be happy about that. yippee! LOL

Well my son feels like you and laura.He is 9 yrs old and on 9 meds himself.i feel like everytime i turn around i am making him take a pill.the worst part of it all is the are prscribed by a doctor so i have to make him take it.In a week he will have another one for glacoma.I have gotten to the point where i am afraid to take him because he will have a new medicine.only 4 are needed for what he is diagnosed the rest are to make sure nothing else goes wrong.is there a point where it is over kill on meds for anyone?i am glad i am not the only one who feels this way.

Gabby, I take the same meds as you do now and a few added others for other issues I have but I never heard of a doctor prescribing statins for preventative measures.. that seems rather odd given the potential for side effects with them. Did he give you your cholesterol numbers? I know mine were normal for a nondiabetic but they want them lower because I'm diabetic. Not sure I agree with that but I do it for now too. We'll see!

My triglicerides are high. They never used to run high, I always had great numbers. Now that I am eating healthier, they jumped. So in that regard it is not preventative, but I also believe that he will keep me on it after my numbers get back to normal. My HDL is at the low specrtum of normal and my over all cholesterol is 222, so it needs to come down. I was hoping he would wait to see if the Niacin helped before putting me on MORE pills. But the Lisniopril and the low dose aspirin are preventative "every diabetic" should take. (according to blanket statements)

And yep, I do rattle. I take a ton of supplements as well, so at breakfast I down at least 12 pills, lunch is only two and dinner is about 16. That is disgusting!

Oh, yes. I have checked them on online, with my pharmacist and my doctor. No problems. The only one that I take that can cause issues is Red Yeast Rice and I asked specifically about that now that my doctor has me on a statin...he said it was okay.

But you are right, You have to check that stuff out. Like I just found out Grapefruit kills the effectiveness of one of my meds. I was really bummed.

I am thinking all us diabetics are a walking pharmacy. I gets tiresome but what's the alternative? Gabby if your numbers are up then you are on them for a good reason like me. And I am sure a lot more are too. If my numbers was not high I would question the method. Oh yeah just hope no one slaps your back hard a pill may fly out and hit someone.LOL Gotta keep it on the brightside somehow huh? Best of luck Gabby.

My blood pressure is great, but the lisinopril is preventive for my kidneys. I have a fine heart rate, but the low dose aspirin is preventative. The newest, pravastat is to help reduce my cholesterol, but I hope that once they are in good range, he will take that one away. I am at 222 and I beileve that 180 or lower is desired. So I do have some work there to do.
I'm not really frustrated, but it makes me feel OLD to have to have a whole cabinet dedicated to all of my pills. YIKES...where do I have room for my cane! LOL

Oh I am telling you. I have been on so many meds since 18 years old. It makes me feel like I can compare how many meds I take with my elders. I win a lot of times LOL. But I have a type 1 friend that is 17 and takes 32 meds a day so it seems to just be how it is when you are diabetic. He has seizures and celiatic disease too. Poor kid. Can't eat anything.

Yeah when I get the case of the poor me's I always get on line and I find people and kids and even babies and that straightens me right up. Usually with tears in my eyes, but leaves me with the attitude like I just need to get over it. It could be way worse. You know what I mean. I may have hard days and times but think about these little babies and little ones. My little one is showing signs of high sugars again himself. Give me strength.

Laura is 7yrs old as you know, she takes 8 pills a day (well she will in another week and 1/2) Anyway, her meds are 1 Thyroid pill a day, 1 Multivitamin a day (doc. ordered), 2 different allergy pills a day and 4 metformin a day when she is up to full dosage…all of these are prescription medications none are over the counter…so Gabby, welcome to our world lol

Depends on what they are trying to prevent and what you have. I'm about ready to ditch mine because I don't really see the point anymore.

As far as I can tell the kidney protection offered by ACE inhibitors and ARBs has pretty much only been shown in people with renal problems to begin with and not shown to prevent them from happening. The cholesterol medications may be good if your cholesterol is high but I'm not so sure about the cholesterol goals given and if forcing what would be considered well within normal for a non-diabetic to levels that are way lower and, as some evidence is starting to show, levels that may cause more problems than the solve. I understand the theory but in reality none of the theory has really been proved in diabetics that are otherwise healthy.

I'm paying $100 a month for mine because I couldn't tolerate the generic statins or ACE inhibitors and I don't feel it's worth it seeing as all my cholesterol, blood pressure and kidney function numbers are good and would not be treated if I wasn't diabetic.

That is the thing and the blanket statements that I have heard twice now about "all" diabetics should be taking this pill....geez. They would be better to ask me more of my diet and exercise habits and see where I could imporve that first you would think. I just feel like my life is a pill now....I don't want complications, but if my BG is in control and other numbers are good, it just seems like an over medication of everyone.
I know a lot of folks are happy to take a pill, but I am not. I will do it for now, but if my numbers get into control for my BG...you betcha I'm going to be looking to get off some of this stuff.

I get the same at my doctor KD, I don't understand it. I know they 'say' having diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease on it's own. I can see that if it's not controlled but they don't seem to look at that. Either they aren't telling us the whole story or they're in cahoots with the drug companies. Take your pick!!

Amen! I feel the same way. Every time I have to reorder I consider chunking them all in the garbage. I really do wonder if it's all necessary and/or worth it. I hate taking meds (as most do, I'm sure) and feel that we're a drastically overmedicated society.

I take 8 different meds a day. some are 2 times a day, some are 3. But I would rather take meds than deal with complications and they make me feel better and help me deal better with my other disease issues. So many issues. LOL